Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to strengthen agriculture-based enterprises run by women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and promote sustainable livelihood opportunities across the state.
The agreement was signed between the Mission Shakti Department and ICRISAT at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Manasi Nimbhal.
Speaking on the occasion, Nimbhal said women farmers must be equipped with scientific knowledge, modern technologies and stronger market linkages to address the challenges posed by climate change. She said the partnership would empower lakhs of SHG members by improving their capabilities in the agriculture sector and contribute to the objectives of the Lakhpati Didi initiative as well as the broader vision of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Odisha.
Under the agreement, a series of agriculture-based interventions will be implemented in different districts of the state. In Puri and Khordha, women SHGs will be engaged in removing aquatic weeds from water bodies and converting them into value-added products, creating livelihood opportunities while supporting environmental conservation.
In Rayagada district, the project will promote the production of biochar using locally available cotton and harada (myrobalan) pods to improve soil fertility and enhance carbon sequestration. The initiative also envisages the expansion of high-quality grafted vegetable seedling production in three districts.
The collaboration will further focus on capacity building of women SHG members through training in millet cultivation, pulse crops, oilseeds and natural farming practices. Climate-smart agricultural technologies developed by ICRISAT, digital agriculture advisory services and the use of improved seed varieties will also be promoted.
The programme will additionally provide technical and business support to women entrepreneurs for product packaging, branding and market linkages to enhance the commercial viability of SHG-led enterprises.
Mission Shakti Director Monika Priyadarshini, ICRISAT Deputy Director General Dr. Stanford Blade and senior officials from the Mission Shakti Department, Odisha Livelihoods Mission and ICRISAT were present during the signing ceremony.
